Multiuse Disinfection Cap With Incremental Spray Dispensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing disinfection caps for needle-free connectors (NFCs) are typically disposable and do not provide a mechanism for repeated use, posing a risk of contamination and infection transmission due to improper maintenance and exposure to non-sterile environments.
Innovation Solution
A multiuse disinfection cap assembly with a spray mechanism that can be affixed to NFCs, allowing multiple disinfections by incrementally advancing over ridges on the housing to dispense disinfectant, featuring a visual indicator for usage tracking and a removable design after reaching the maximum number of uses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If disposable disinfection caps are used, then contamination risk is reduced for each use, but cost and waste increase due to single-use requirement
Solution Approach 1:
The cap transitions from a static disposable design to a dynamic reusable design with a spray mechanism that actively dispenses disinfectant. The cap can be removed and reattached multiple times, transforming the single-use nature into a multi-use system that maintains sterility through active disinfection rather than single-use disposal.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap performs self-disinfection by containing a spray mechanism with disinfectant that can be activated to clean the connector surface. This self-service capability allows the cap to maintain its own sterility and the connector's sterility without requiring replacement, enabling repeated use while preventing contamination.
2Loss of substance
If reusable disinfection caps are implemented, then cost and waste are reduced, but contamination risk increases without proper maintenance mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The cap performs self-disinfection by containing a spray mechanism with disinfectant that can be activated to clean the connector surface. This self-service capability allows the cap to maintain its own sterility and the connector's sterility without requiring replacement, enabling repeated use while preventing contamination.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray mechanism enables continuous or repeated disinfection actions throughout the cap's usable life. The cap can be used multiple times with disinfection capability maintained through the spray mechanism, ensuring continuous protection against contamination rather than single-use disposal.
3Duration of action of moving object
If spray mechanism is added to cap, then multiple disinfections are enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cap serves multiple functions: it seals the connector to prevent contamination and contains a spray mechanism for active disinfection. This multi-functionality consolidates protection and cleaning capabilities into a single device, enabling repeated use without proportionally increasing complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray mechanism is integrated within the cap structure, with the disinfectant reservoir and spray components nested inside the cap housing. This nesting approach incorporates the complex spray mechanism within the existing cap form factor, minimizing overall complexity increase while enabling multiple disinfection cycles.
4Reliability
If cap encloses complete proximal end of NFC, then protection is improved, but ease of operation decreases due to removal requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The cap transitions from a static disposable design to a dynamic reusable design with a spray mechanism that actively dispenses disinfectant. The cap can be removed and reattached multiple times, transforming the single-use nature into a multi-use system that maintains sterility through active disinfection rather than single-use disposal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Ensures repeated sterilization of NFCs, reducing the risk of contamination and infection transmission by providing a cost-effective, reusable solution that maintains sterility through multiple uses.
Implementation Method 1
The first sidewall of the cap comprises at least one ridge on an interior surface of the first sidewall of the cap that is configured to engage, in sequence, with a plurality of ridges on an exterior surface of a sidewall of the housing
Implementation Method 2
spray mechanism within the multiuse disinfection cap assembly to disinfect the NFC surface or contact area multiple times
Data Source
AI summary
A multiuse disinfection cap assembly configured to disinfect a connector, comprising a cap, a housing, and a chamber. The cap comprises a closed top, an open bottom, a first sidewall comprising a ridge, and a center arm. The housing comprises an open top, an open bottom, and a sidewall comprising a plurality of ridges. The chamber comprises a perforated bottom and an open top, which comprises an opening configured to allow the center arm of the cap to engage a stopper located within the chamber. Each time the cap is pushed in a downward direction, the ridge of the cap slides over a ridge of the plurality of ridges of the housing to allow the cap to advance incrementally, and the center arm of the cap moves the stopper within the chamber to cause a disinfectant in the chamber to spray onto the connector.